Marwan: lost in desert at four years old ... but for how long?

This striking image from the Syria-Jordan border was much-shared and commented upon, on February 17, after it was tweeted by CNN Anchor Hala Gorani. According to her tweet, the boy was found "crossing the desert alone after being separated from family fleeing Syria".

In a subsequent tweet, Gorani credited the UNHCR's representative in Jordan, Andrew Harper, who posted the image 24 hours beforehand, stating that Marwan had been "temporarily separated from this family".

A tweet sent out by Harper a half hour before he posted the image of Marwan showed a group of refugees. The scene looked similar and the stated location was also the Jordanian-Syrian border. The luggage seen in the left hand side of the photograph of Marwan, meanwhile, suggested that — if the photographs were related — the boy was near the main body of refugees.

With major news organisations looking at the image, and checking the back story, Guardian journalist Shiv Malik spoke to a UNHCR press officer who was on the scene. She said that the child was only a few feet behind his family:

Reading Gorani's first tweet, the reader could be forgiven for thinking the boy had wandered in the desert for days. The lack of information makes it more compelling. The CNN anchor's tweet got thousands of retweets compared to a couple of hundred for Harper's original tweet, stating that Marwan was "temporarily separated". Qualifying statements are anti-viral. In an exchange with Malik, Gorani said her team spoke to the UNHCR:

Andrej Mahecic, spokesman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, said: "The journey across the desert can take one day or several weeks. "It's very dangerous because there is still fighting going on and it's the middle of winter so it can be freezing cold at night. "The journey is long and exhausting, so it's impossible for a four-year-old to cross the desert by himself. "We think Marwan may have got lost during the night. At the moment we don't know anything more."

This presents a genuine dilemma. Do we trust the direct quote from the UNHCR spokesman in Geneva or the reported statement by the press officer in the field. Because she was reportedly at the scene, we rely on the press officer (and the journalist quoting her).

UNHCR representative Andrew Harper, who posted the shot that went viral, posted a new image of Marwan 24 hours later. He updated the story but gave no further information about how long the boy was lost.

viviana gonzalezit is not about how dramatic the situation is... we know it is. But it is unacceptable that some journalist mislead the public for their own benefits2014-02-18T22:43:29.832Z

David KnowlesThis is some disgraceful reporting by the CNN, UNHCR should worry about taking care of the refugees not take photos and make up stories.2014-02-18T22:07:15.840Z

David KnowlesThis is some disgraceful reporting by the CNN, UNHCR should worry about taking care of the refugees not take photos and make up stories.2014-02-18T22:07:12.657Z

Nazita IbrahimUnbelievable! It does not matter whether he is 20 ft or 20 meters away from his family, guys. The fact remains that a 4 year old boy and others like him had...Unbelievable! It does not matter whether he is 20 ft or 20 meters away from his family, guys. The fact remains that a 4 year old boy and others like him had to cross a desert to find refuge at the Jordanian border. A 4 year old had to cross the desert on foot ! Where is your heart?!more2014-02-18T15:22:42.433Z

Pierre OPWHAT THE HELL! There are people who have to travel across a desert to survive AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING? YOU DISCUSS ABOUT THE DISTANCE OF THE BOY TO HIS PARENTS...WHAT THE HELL! There are people who have to travel across a desert to survive AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING? YOU DISCUSS ABOUT THE DISTANCE OF THE BOY TO HIS PARENTS? F*** our society & such BLABLABLA-Internet user! Shame on you all!more2014-02-18T14:52:59.820Z